Now that you are older, do you like to watch
big trucks and bulldozers do their thing at
construction sites? Can you see yourself
behind the wheel of a backhoe, loader,
dump truck, or crane?
Heavy equipment operators
drive the
big trucks and machines used to construct
and maintain roads, bridges, airports, gas
and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings, and
other structures. Some heavy equipment
operators work in mines and quarries. Most
work on solid ground, but some work with
cranes and other heavy equipment on oil
rigs and other structures located out in the
middle of oceans.
Heavy equipment operators must have a
high school diploma and special training
to qualify for the job. Apprenticeship
programs—where new workers get
supervised, on-the-job experience—are how
many heavy equipment operators prepare
for this work. They must obtain a
commercial
driver’s license
and, depending on the laws
of the state where they work, may need to
get special
certification
.
Check It Out!
Follow some heavy equipment
operators on the job at:
Start Now!
Make your own heavy
equipment memory game.
Paste pictures of different
kinds of construction
equipment on index cards.
Write the names of each
type on separate index
cards. Mix them up and
place them facedown on
a table. Then find pairs
of matching pictures and
names.
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